G Line (RTD)

G Line
G Line
	G-Line train at 41st and Fox Station
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Regional Transportation District
Locale	Denver metropolitan area
Termini	Union Station; Wheat Ridge/Ward
Stations	8
Website	RTD-Denver - G-Line
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Regional Transportation District
Operator(s)	Denver Transit Partners
History
Opened	April 26, 2019
Technical
Line length	11.2 miles (18.0 km)
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	Overhead lines, 25k V AC 60 Hz
Route diagram
	Legend
	SH 121
	Wadsworth Bypass
	SH 95
	Sheridan Boulevard
	Amtrak
	to Emeryville
	US 287
	Federal Boulevard
	Amtrak
	to Chicago
	This diagram: view; talk; ;

The G Line, also known as the Gold Line during construction,^[1] is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) electric commuter rail line between Denver Union Station and Wheat Ridge, Colorado.^[2] Long scheduled to open in October 2016, the opening was delayed until mid-2019.^[3]^[4] The reason specified for the delay was timing issues experienced by the other commuter rail lines in the RTD system, which currently require a Federal Railroad Administration waiver to operate their grade crossings manually, and the wireless crossing system used by those lines.^[5]

History[]

The G Line uses the former Colorado and Southern Railway line which ran between Denver and Arvada until 1943.

The Gold Line is part of the RTD’s FasTracks expansion plan, and is operated by Denver Transit Partners as part of the Eagle P3 public–private partnership.^[6] The line received a Record of Decision approval from the Federal Transit Administration in November 2009 allowing the line to be developed.^[7] Groundbreaking for the line occurred on August 31, 2011, at a ceremony in Olde Town Arvada where US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the approval of a $1 billion grant to fund the project.^[8]

The line is 11.2 miles (18.0 km) in length,^[8] and was expected to cost $590.5 million.^[7] There are a total of eight stations: Union Station, 41st Avenue, Pecos, Federal, Sheridan, Olde Town, Arvada Ridge and Ward Road.^[7]

The project's nickname of the "Gold Line" refers to the June 1850 discovery of gold by Georgia prospector Lewis Ralston in Ralston Creek, which runs a few blocks from the Olde Town Station.^[9]

Delays[]

Sign telling that a station is closed.

The G Line was originally scheduled to open in late 2016, but was delayed due to crossing gate issues with the RTD's A and B lines. The automated crossing gate system, unique to the RTD system, failed to receive federal and state approvals and relied on flaggers on a federal waiver for the first two lines. After RTD solved timing issues with the gates, subject to Federal Railroad Administration approval, the G Line opened without flaggers and quiet zones in place on April 26th, 2019. Testing began in January 2018 and the state's Public Utilities Commission approved the automated gates in March.^[10]^[11] Pending FRA approval of the crossing systems in December 2018, the agency claimed it could begin operations as late as Q1 2019.^[12] On April 1, 2019, RTD announced the opening of the G Line on April 26 following approval from respective organizations.^[13]

Route[]

The G Line's southern terminus is at Union Station in Denver. It runs on a railroad right-of-way north sharing track with the B Line until Pecos Junction station after which the two routes diverge. The G Line continues west to its terminus in Wheat Ridge.^[14]

Stations[]

Fare zone	Municipality	Station	Interchange	Opening year	Park & Ride
A	Denver	Union Station	RTD Commuter Rail: A B N RTD Light Rail: C E W Amtrak: California Zephyr MallRide Flatiron Flyer	2014	No
	Denver	41st & Fox	RTD Commuter Rail: B	2019	Yes
	North Washington	Pecos Junction	RTD Commuter Rail: B	2019	Yes
B	Berkley	Clear Creek/Federal		2019	Yes
	Arvada	60th & Sheridan/Arvada Gold Strike		2019	Yes
		Olde Town Arvada		2019	Yes
		Arvada Ridge		2019	Yes
	Wheat Ridge	Wheat Ridge/Ward		2019	Yes

References[]

^ "G Line".
^ "RTD - G Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
^ Paul, Jesse (November 18, 2016). "RTD will not open G-Line or R-Line before end of year as planned". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
^ "FRA Approves Extended G Line Testing Period". RTD News. Regional Transportation District. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
^ Baumann, Joella (June 29, 2017). "Passengers waiting for RTD G-Line to open may be waiting until 2018". Denver Post. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
^ "Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project, Denver, USA". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Fastracks Gold Line To Wheat Ridge Approved". The Denver Channel. November 3, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
^ ^a ^b "USDOT provides $1 billion for Denver RTD's Eagle P3 commuter-rail project". Progressive Railroading. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
^ "Stories Along the Line: Gold Line carries a rich name". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
^ Aguilar, John (January 2, 2018). "Full-day testing on G-Line raises hope that long-delayed service is now on track". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
^ Worthington, Danika (March 28, 2018). "RTD wins state approval for G-Line start and eventual removal of costly A-Line flaggers". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
^ Aguilar, John (December 17, 2018). "Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds". Denver Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
^ Wingerter, Meg (April 1, 2019). "RTD: Long-delayed G-Line from Denver to Wheat Ridge will open April 26". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
^ "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.

Route map:

( • help)

[1] "G Line".

[g-line-2] "RTD - G Line". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 22, 2015.

[delay-3] Paul, Jesse (November 18, 2016). "RTD will not open G-Line or R-Line before end of year as planned". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 20, 2016.

[RTD_FRA_Extended-4] "FRA Approves Extended G Line Testing Period". RTD News. Regional Transportation District. Retrieved July 21, 2018.

[5] Baumann, Joella (June 29, 2017). "Passengers waiting for RTD G-Line to open may be waiting until 2018". Denver Post. Retrieved August 15, 2017.

[rt-6] "Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project, Denver, USA". Railway Technology. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.

[denver-7] "Fastracks Gold Line To Wheat Ridge Approved". The Denver Channel. November 3, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2011.

[progressive-8] "USDOT provides $1 billion for Denver RTD's Eagle P3 commuter-rail project". Progressive Railroading. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.

[9] "Stories Along the Line: Gold Line carries a rich name". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

[10] Aguilar, John (January 2, 2018). "Full-day testing on G-Line raises hope that long-delayed service is now on track". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.

[11] Worthington, Danika (March 28, 2018). "RTD wins state approval for G-Line start and eventual removal of costly A-Line flaggers". Denver Post. Retrieved May 22, 2018.

[12] Aguilar, John (December 17, 2018). "Denver's tall buildings partly to blame for A-Line, G-Line problems, RTD tells feds". Denver Post. Retrieved December 18, 2018.

[13] Wingerter, Meg (April 1, 2019). "RTD: Long-delayed G-Line from Denver to Wheat Ridge will open April 26". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 1, 2019.

[14] "RTD - Northwest Rail Line - Project Map". Regional Transportation District. Retrieved February 11, 2015.

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